Gun control elicits more dogmatic, knee-jerk reactions than most of the critical issues before the American people. Too many seek simplistic solutions for what is a complex and emotionally charged subject.

There is a significant schism between the views of urban and rural citizens. I have relatives living outside of the city where the delay in police response time has made being armed a necessity to protect against predators, both human and animal. This is not the case in our city, but the law must be created to apply to both situations.

The lack of responsible action by our National Rifle Association-fearing legislators has led to the necessity of a ballot initiative. But this is the least reasonable alternative/ It will bring out extremists on either side.

As with other aspects of the current political silly season, after decades of inaction, any action is progress.

— Harvey Cordner, Pasadena

Vote, yes — and vote no

Don’t deny my Second Amendment right to bear arms. Not being able to vote on gun control is a tool used by the state Senate to deny people their rights. Not one gun control law will stop a bad guy from getting a gun and using it to commit a crime.

A perfect example is what happened in San Bernardino. A friend of the terrorist purchased the rifle the terrorist used to kill unarmed Americans. That’s called a straw purchase. Guess what? That’s against the law.

State government needs to enforce the laws already in the books. I feel that my rights are being trampled on. By letting the people of California vote on gun control, it would end more gun control in our state.

— Nate Garcia, Fontana

She can’t count on police

As a black, female, middle-class citizen, I feel the gun-control plan should be to enforce our current laws. Do not allow guns in the hands of convicted felons or foreign nationals (whether they are here legally or not).

Living in the inner city, being a black woman, being a middle-class woman, I am not provided the same protection that white, upper-class citizens receive. They buy armed protection and then want to deny us the right to protect ourselves. The police cannot and will not follow us around and guard our homes from inner-city gangbangers who are armed to the teeth.

Men who prey on women don’t care about gun-control laws. If you take away our guns, they will still have theirs and we will not be able to protect ourselves.

I am not a hunter. I want and need guns to protect myself and my daughter as our government is not equipped to do so.

— Angus Black, Los Angeles

He fought back with a gun

Passing more gun laws only affects the law-abiding citizens. Criminals do not abide by the law. They don’t buy guns, they steal them.

If legislators would open their eyes, they’d see that areas of the country with strict gun laws only hamper the citizen who wants to protect person and family.

I was a victim of a home-invasion robbery and held at gunpoint for 20 minutes, while the bad guys were dumping drawers looking for money and guns. I managed to get hold of a loaded pistol and shoot one of them. The police said that given the amount of time they spent in my house, they probably intended to do more harm like rape or murder, so if I didn’t have firearms and know how to use them, I might not be here today.

— Thomas Magill, Torrance

More answers to this Question of the Week will be published Wednesday.